Engine starting mechanism



Feb. 25, 1936.V R. P. LANslNG ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Origin-a1 Filed DGT'. 30, 1951 QN SN m vPatented Feb. 25, 1936 y UNi'rlazD STATES Iiili'i'izivr OFFICE ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Raymond P. Lansing, Montclair, N. J., asslgnor,

by mesne assignments, to Eclipse Aviation Corporation, East Orange, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey i .Application October 30, 1931, Serial No. 572,210 l Renewed March 11, 1935 `20 Claims. (Cl. 29o-38) This invention relates to starting mechanisms Fig. l is a view partly in elevation land partly and more particularly to starters for engines of invertical section showing a device embodying the internal combustion type. I the invention; and

One o! the objects of the invention is to pro- Fig. 2 .is a transverse sectional view along the 5 vide, in an engine starter, novel means for esline 2- 2` of Fig. 1. ,i

tablishing driving relation between the starter Referring to the drawing, the invention is and a member of the engine to be started. shown embodied in a device having a prime A further object of the invention is to provide mover I, herein shown in the form of anelectric a novel Istarter embodying engagement producmotor whose armature shaft 2, extendedas ining means operative upon the engine-engaging dicated at 3, constitutes the driving shaft oi.' 10 memberto' cause the latter to move directly into the driving mechanism. A casing 0r bracket 'l engine-engaging position prior to imparting any kextends from the frame o! the motor and at its excessive rotary movement thereto. outer end is provided with a bearing portion I A further object of the invention is to provideadapted to receive the outer end 3 of the arma- ]5 in a motor-driven starter of the type above deture shaft. The casing yalSO Preferably COIiStl- 15 scribed, novel means for delayingr the acceleratutes the Supporting means OI' a Shifting level' tionof the motor to normal driving speed until Ii to be further descrlbedthe saidlever being the engine-engaging member has completed its pivoted to the casing by suitable means such as engine-engaging movement. e rock shaft 1, on which is also mounted a yoke A principal object of the invention is to proportion 8 (shown best in Fis'- 2) WhOSe lower end 20 I vide a novel motor-driven starter mechanism of 9 is in a DOSitiOn t0 engage a flangedV Collar l0 the type involving a driving member movable constituting part 0f the Shifting means hereininto engagement with a member ,of the engine after described, and operative to mesh the drivto be started, in which means are provided for ing member II with the engine memberl2, the

preventing a return torque transmission to the -former being shown in the embodiment herein 25 i motor after starting .of theengine under its own illustrated as a pinion movable along the shaft power,. while at the same time maintaining-said 3 into mesh with the gear I2 drivably connected driving member inposition to resume the action by Suitable means not ShOWn. t0 the Crankshaft. of turning over the engine to restart it automati- The novel means 1'01' Swinging the lever S to cally in the event the engine should stall, or effect a meshing 0f the DihiOl'l llW'lth the Sear 30 decelerate to such la degree that a stall impends, VI2 includes a link Il pivotalLV Connected at one l such automatic resumption of the cranking operendv to the upper end of the lever 6 and at its ation being conditional (in the embodiment. other endto asecond lever I5, the latter being herein illustrated) upon` the continued energizaadapted to swing about a fixed pivot I6 jour- `tion of the motor rduring this period of stalling naled in a relatively stationarysupport. the lower 35 tendency. end of the lever terminating in Aa yoke I1, the

Another object of the invention is to provide lower ends of which engage a ansed collar Il'v in a motor-drivenYstarter of the type in which in substantially the same kind of connection as a normallyzdisengaged drivingV member is to be that between the members A9 and III above de- 40 moved into engagement with a member of the scribed. As shown the flanged collar IB is an 40 engine to be started, novel connections for eiiectintegral extension 0f an internally threaded ing such driving engagement in response to the sleeve or nut I9 movable to a limited extent along initial rotary movement of the motor. lan externally threaded sleeve 2li keyed as at 22 Other objects and advantages to be derived to the outer end 2| of the amature shaft 2. The

from the use oi' the invention disclosed herein eXtreme end `0f the portion 2| 01 the armature 45 will become evident on an inspection of the folshaft has threaded thereto a Step hilt 01' abutlowing description when read with reference to ment 23 having a ange 24 providing a seat tor the accompanying drawing, illustrating the prea coiled compression-'spring 25, the opposite end ferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be of which bears against the shoulder 21 formed expressly understood,` however, that said drawon the nut I9 at the junction ofthe collar por- 50 ing is forv the purpose of illustration only and tion Iwith the threaded portion. The normal is not to be construed as a. definition of the limits stress of the coil spring 25 is preferably ysuch as ofthe invention, reference being .had for this to maintain the nut I9 in abutting relation to purpose to the appended claims. a`collar 30. This coil spring 25 isV also oi' suiii- In the drawing. Y elent strength to return the nut I 9 from the dash 55 lead, and in a direction opposite to the directionof rotation of the motor when energized. The

collar lllv abuts a thrust bearing 8l received in the boss 32 of the casing'ofithe motor 1. Ifv deim sired, the end of the yoke I1 maybe provided with suitable means, herein shown in the form of leaf springs "83 secured to the yoke ends, and frictionally engaging the radial surfaces-of the flanges on the collar I8 to insure a longitudinal movement of the nut I8-in response to initial rotation of the sleeve 20, and to prevent any rotary movement of the nut prior to the completion of the predetermined amount of longitudinal movement.

v'I'he invention further includes, as above indicatedg'iiovel means for producing first, a relatively slowV rotary movement of the motor shaft 2,

and thereafter an acceleration thereof inI response `to the action of the-linkage above described. As shown, such means include aninitial relatively high resistance circuit through the ileld coils 35 of the motor and a second lower resistance circuitthereto, vthe latter being closable vby switch means operating only after the linkage has shifted to a'predetermined extent in response to the above described screw action between the members I8 and 20. Referring tothe electrical connection superimposed schematically on the mechanical parts of Fig. l, the initial i higher resistance circuit includes a pair of conductors 31 and 88, the former terminating from *a suitable source of current 88 and the latter leading to a. terminal contact 48 constituting one of a pair of contacts ll and 4i normally electrically separated but adapted to be abridged by a rmovable contact l2 located at the lower en'd of a pin 43 normaily held in the position indicated in Fig. 1 by the-action of a compression spring M having abutting relation at one end with a recessed ledge formed on the switch casing 45, and

at the other end with a collar or head I8 attached to the pin. and terminating in a rounded projection I8 adapted to be contacted by the correspondingly'rounded end I8 of a striker. piece orv nger 58 connected "to or integral with the yoke 8rabove vdescribed so as to oscillate with the lever 8 in response to actuation thereof ythrough the Vmechanical connections above described. The yterminals 40 and Il are electrically connected in a circuit 5I in which there is inserted a resistance unit 52, Vand leading from the contact 4l is another lead 58 completing the positive side of thezcircuit from the source 'Il to the windings of the motor uponclosure of the switch 54, the latter being located on the control panel vof the vehicle or in some other position equally accessible to the operator. As shown, the

brushes 59 of the motor are yieldably and removvably held in position by means of spring 68 and removable insulating yokes Il, but this mounting forms no part -of thepresent invention and it is tobe understood that the motor construction may bervaried as desired.

lThe means for drivably connecting the collarv vIII with the engine-engaging pinion I I to first movethe latter into mesh with the engine member I2 and thereafter turn over the engine cranknos :mais

shaft in response 'to the torque transmitted through such driving connections, is herein shown as constituted by an assembly of parts adapted to respond to rotation of the motor shaft 2, such assembly of parts including preferably an axially movable overrunning clutch mechanism )constituted by a plurality of rollers 85 disposed in tapering recesses cut at regular intervals along the outer surface of a sleeve 81 splined tothe armature shaft as indicated at 88, the sleeve 81 thus constituting an inner race of the clutch, the outer-racebeing constituted by a member 18 having an inwardly'turned annular termination 1I to aid in' maintaining the rollers 65 in position and having at its" opposite end a radial projection "or flange' 12 adaptedl to be held in abutting relationV to the inwardly turned flange 13 on the co1- lar Ill by force of a coiled compression spring 14 .one end vof which presses upon the opposite side of the ange 12 and the other end of which abuts a disc-11 held fast to the pinion II by any suitable means which as shownconsists in cutting a peripheral groove near the end of the pinion and then peening.` over the lend rof the pinion as indicated at 18. The disc 11 also abuts` an iinwardly turned end 81| of ay barrel 8|.,Ja portion of the cylindrical surface of .which is cut away at regular intervalsto provide a slotted orsp1ined effect, the slots 82 Athus formedV being adapted to register with the inwardly turnedflange 13 above described, vthe latter having cut out portions therein to correspond to thecuts in the barrel 8|. In order to prevent separation of the members 10 and lil from the barrel 8l, a split collar 85 with radially projecting fingers 86. is sprung outwardly into corresponding slots in the barrel 8|. A. collar 81 is secured to the'member 'Ill by suitable means such as screws 88to maintain the rollers in position relative to the inner race.-

81; and is in turn heldagainst displacement to the right as viewed in Fig. l-.by reason of its engagement with the shoulder 88 formed on the shaftf2` at the point of termination of the splines 'In operation, the closure of the switch Elproducesan'initial energization of the motor which due to the comparatively high resistance 52 imparts only a comparativelyY slow rotation of the shaft 2. This rotation,.however, is sufficient' to cause 'a longitudinal displacement of the nut I8 from the position shown in full lines-.in Fig. l,

to the position indicated in dash lines,4 in which latter position its motion in a longitudinal direction islarrested by the energystored in the now compressed spring 25. Such motion however is suflicient to draw the link Htc the right and lever 8 in a' clockwise direction to advance the pinion I I into mesh with the gear I2, the endwise pressure on the pinion being exerted through yoke 8, collar I0, i'lange 12 of .the clutch ymember 18, spring 14 and disc11. .At the same time the contact 42 ismoved toward the terminals 40 and Il iby engagement of nger 58 Awith the l rounded projection 48, the spacing between the vlatter two members and between the contacts being such that the contacts do not engage un- 4.

til the teeth of the gears- Il and I2 are well'in 'mesh. Onbridging the contacts 40 andliby the member 82, the comparatively high resistance '52 vis shuntedr out of circuit to the motor, whereupon shaft 2 is accelerated and a high degree of rotation vis imparted to the pinion I I through rotary driving connections rconstituted by the-inner race l1 of the overrunning clutch. the rollers- 6i which are in the counter-clockwise direction ofy rotation vmove into wedging relation to--the outer race 10, the drive from the member I-II being directto the pinion -by way ofthe splines B2 and lil-atthe opposite endsthereof.' When` the engine starts,- the resulting superior driving' y gear, theoverrunning action of the rollers `6,5 of

the clutch allowing the outer race 1,0 thereof Yto revolve independently `oi! the inner race 61splined to the motor shaft and even though the operator should allow the switch -54 to remain closed. When the latter switch is eventually opened, the resulting de-energizationof the motor anddeceleration of the shaft 2 permits the spring 25 to return the nut I9 to its normal position in abutment withrthe` stop 30,'such return movement causing a disengagement ofY thepinion II from the gear I2 through axially directed pull exerted thereon in the following manner: `the lever 6 pushes collar II! to the right, which in turn pushes the split `collar 85, the latter having its teeth 86 interconnected with the corresponding slots in the barrel 8| vcauses the latter, and hence the pinion II, to move correspondingly to the right, thus returning the parts to their normal positions as indicated in Fig. l; i

In the event that the teeth of pinionv II strike those of the engine member I2during the forward meshing movement of the former, the resulting compression of spring 14 upon its seat on annular discs 11 will permit completion of the shifting movement of thelever 6 and consequently; will permit closure of the shuntcircuit through the contact 42. The resultant acceleration in the'shaft 2 will move the rollers 65l into driving relation to the outer race and will thus cause sulcient rotary movement of pinion II to bring its teeth into proper registry, with the teeth of the vmember I2.` Thereupon the previously compressed spring 14 will become effective to snap the pinion into full meshing engagement with the gear I2 and thus establish cranking relation. Y

From the foregoing it is apparent that the lnvention provides means for producing driving engagement between the starter and the engine prior to full energization of the driving` means, togetherrwith means for preventing a return torque transmission to the motor even though the driving memberv of the starter remains in operative engagement with the engine `after starting of the latterf under its own power. Moreover, the novel shifting means disclosed make it possible to divide the shifting` anddrivingfapparatus into separateV locations on eitherr side of the prime mover,'thus reducing the over- 4"hang between the engine end of the prime mover 4 Is'the elimination of disensaing springs or other torque responsive devices which in the constructime the 5,4.` In l opening of the switch 54 fora brief period-following .the apparent starting of the engine,'for itisvvelll known that engines frequently stall just after the. initial firing impulse, and therefore an opening of the switch 54 after such initial firing impulse might be premature. isparti'cularly true whenthe' engine is accelerated by an isolated firing impulse, and in such cases the overrunning ofthe starter by thek engine is merely temporary. Y 'Therefore vI prefer to maintainthe motor circuit closed for a rather"considerab1e period, so that thepinion `I I will remain in a positien vto resume the drive, in contra-distinction to devices of the prior kar't whereinthe pinion is immediately demeshed bythe overrunning action due'to the first firing impulse, with the'resuit that the subsequent efforts to rremesh produce a bumping action known as hunting, and an attendant severe stress on the mechanism.'

l From the foregoing explanation it is evident that thefeature `of the invention whereby the pinion may overrun thermotor` shaft is of considerable importance inthat it makes it`possible to restart the engine through application of power to the flywheel I2 in the event that the engine` vtends tostall immediately after the first ring impulse, andprior to release of, the switch 54. In this connectionit maybe noted that the inventionmaybe made applicable to, and may be i combined with any of the existing types of electrical or electro-magnetic control mechanism operating through the 'engine ignition circuit, or other current generating circuit to re-engage the starter with the enginel on any subsequent vtendency to stall, that is, any stalling tendency which occurs afterthe switch 54 has been opened.

While it'is obvious from the foregoing that the embodiment herein disclosedposvs'esses practical merit, it is to be understood that this Vembodimentis not exclusive of other embodiments which may incorporate thenovel provisions herein `disclosed and claimed, while other embodiments will bevsuggested to' persons skilled; in the art on examination of the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings.

It is vto `be kunderstood that various other changes maybe made in the construction, arrangement and interrelation of the partsconstituting the invention without departing from the spirit thereof,V the extent of the permissible variations being ascertainable by reference to the appended claims.

`What is claimed is: Y

1. `In apparatusof the class described, anfen gine driven member. kan electric motor having a drivingy shaft, a lmotor-driven member driven therefromand normally outI of engagement with said engine member, meansv for moving said motor-driven .member into engagement with 4said engine member,` means for disengaging said motor-driven member, means for rendering said disengaging means ineffective prior Ito de-energization of said electric motor, and an overrunning clutch mechanism Afacilitating re-acceleration of the engine member in the event that the latter loses momentum after the initial ringimpulse .of the engine, but prior to de-energization of theelectric motor. f

2L I n combinationwith an internal combustion y'enginefhaving a part to be engaged mountedthereon, an electric starting motor, a source of current, a toothed member adapted to be driven Vfrom said motorend normallyy out of mesh with said part to beengaged, means responsive to the initial rotation of said motor to move said toothed member into meshgwith said part to be engaged, andgmeans for automatically increasing the electrical energy delivered to ,said motor from said source as said toothed member reaches its meshed position, said last named meanscomprising a relatively high resistance circuittofsaid motor andv means for shunting a portionof said circuit in response to movement of said toothed member.` n l 3. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a gear mountedthereon, an elec-l tric starting motor, ,a source ofk current, aA gear engaging member adapted to be driven from said motor and normally out of mesh with said gear, means responsive to initial rotation of'said motor to move saidgear engaging Amember into mesh with said gear, means for connectingsaidjsource lwithy said motor to develop driving'power therein to a degree sufficient to mesh said gear engaging memberwithsaidgear but insufli'cient tocranlty 'the engineand means operable automatically on the completion jof the meshing movement toincrease the power Y developed `iri said motor.

. 4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a gear mounted thereon, an electric l'starting motor, a source of current,y a gear engaging member adapted to be driven from said motor and normally out'of mesh with said gear,

means responsive to initial rotationof said motor v to movey said 'gear engaging member into mesh with said gear, means f or connecting said 'source with said motor'to develop driving power therein to a degree suicient to mesh said gear vengaging member with said gear, but insufficient-to crank the engine, and means operable automatically on thefcompletion of the'meshing movement to increase the power developed in said motor,

said last named means comprising a second circuit from said source to said motor of lower resistance than said first named circuit, said second circuit being clo'sable by a member movable with said gear engaging member.v f

` 5. 'In an engine starting mechanism, a driving motor, a 'rotatable shaft projectingfrom said rmotor at both ends thereof, a driving member mounted on one end of said shaftffor longitudinal movement(V thereof and rotary movement therewith and adapted to cooperate with and `'drive a member ofthe engine to `be started, a

l control member mounted on'said'shaft at'the opposite end `of said motor for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement thereon, and

a driving connection between said two members.

6. In Aanengine starting mechanism, a'driving' motor, 'a' rotatable shaft projecting Y from lsaid motor at both ends thereof, a driving member mounted on one end of said shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary'movement therewith fand adapted to cooperate with and drive a member of the engine to be started, a Vcontrol member. mounted on said shaftatthe opposite `end of said motor for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement thereomand a linkmechanism extending over thelength of said motor into driving relation with both said driving and control vmembers.

7. Engine starting mechanism comprising a driven member, a motor having'a driving shaft provided with a threaded portion projecting'from said motor on the side remotefrom saiddriven member, and an unthreaded f portion projecting from said motor .on the side adjacent said'driven member, a driving member on said unthreaded portion, said driving member being normally'out of engagementl withr saiddriven member; and

means, mounted on said threaded portion of said saiddriv'enmember.

8'. 'Engine starting mechanism" comprising a driven'member, 'a motor having a driving shaft provided withathreaded portion projecting from said driven member, an unthreaded portion adjacent said driven member, a .driving member on said unthreaded portion, said driving member being normaly out of engagement with said driven member, meansmounted on said threaded portion of said shaft for'causing the driving member' to engage said driven member, said last named means comprising-a threadedsleeve operatively engagingsaid threaded portion, and a combined link and spring mechanism connecting said sleeve with said driving member.

10.'En'gine starting mechanism comprising va driven shaft-having a gear securedv thereto, a

vmotor vhaving a driving shaft provided with a threaded portion projecting from said motor on the side remote from said driven shaft, and an unthreaded portion projecting from said motor on the side adjacentl said driven shaft, a'gearv engaging member on said unthreaded portion, said gear engaging member being normally out of mesh with said gear, and means mounted on vsaid threaded portion of said shaft for causingA the gear engaging member to mesh with said gear, said last named means comprising a threaded sleeve operatively engaging said threaded portion, and means yieldably connecting said sleeve with said gear engaging member.

11. Engine starting mechanism comprising a. driven shafthaving a gear secured thereto, a motor having' a driving shaft provided with a threaded portion projecting from said motor on the side remote from said vdriven shaft, an unthreaded portion projccting from said motor on the side adjacent said driven shaft, a gear engagingfmember on'said unthreaded portion, said `-gear engaging member being normally out of mesh withsaid gear, means'mounted on said threaded portion of said shaftfor causing they gear kengaging memberr tomesh with said gear,

'said last named means comprising a threaded sleeve-operatively engaging said threaded portion, and a. combined link and spring mechanism connecting said sleeve with said lgear engaging 1 member. f

12. In combination withA an internal combustion engine an electric starting motor, a circuit v for said motor kincluding a resistance, movable connecting Ymeans for said motor and engine, means for closing said circuit with the resistance therein, and means responsive to a predetermined -said last named means comprising a second circuit from said source to said motor of lower resistance than said'rst namedcircuit, said secshaft foi-causing the driving member tov engage means for closing said circuit with the resistance therein and means responsive to a predetermined degree of rotation of the motor for cutting said resistance out of said circuit, said last named means comprising a second circuit from said source to said motor of lower resistance than said first named circuit, said second circuit being closable by a member movable with said connecting means.

14. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a gear mountedthereon, of

an electric starting motor, a source of current,

a gear engaging member adapted to be driven from said motor and normally out of mesh with said gear, means responsive. to the initial rotation of said motor to move said gear engaging member into mesh with said gear, and means for automatically increasing the electrical energy delivered to said motor from said battery as said gear engaging member reaches its meshed position, said last named means comprising a second circuit from said battery to said motor of lower resistance than said first named circuit, said second circuit being closable by a member movable with said connecting means.

15. In an engine starting mechanism, a driving motor, a rotatable shaft projecting from said motor at both ends thereof, a driving member mounted on one end of said shaft for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement4 therewith and adapted to cooperate with and drive a member of the engine to be started, a control member mounted on said shaft at the opposite end of said motor for longitudinal movement thereof and rotary movement thereon, a link mechanism extending over the length of said motor into driving relation with both said driving member and said control member, a control switch for said motor, and means movable with said link mechanism for operating said control Switch.

16. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an electric starting motor therefor, movable connecting means for said motor and engine, a source of current and connections for operating said motor, and means responsive to a closure of the circuit through said connections for automatically moving said connecting means into operation and thereafter imparting a greater supply of Working energy to said motor.

1'7. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an electric starting motor, a circuit for said motor including a resistance, movable connecting means vfor said motor and engine,

' means including a single actuating member for actuating said connecting means and closing said circuit with said resistance therein, and means responsive to a predetermined degree of rotation of the motor for cutting said resistance out of said circuit.

18. In combination with an internal combustion engine, an electric starting motor, a circuit for said motor including a resistance, movable connecting means for said motor and engine, means for closing said circuit with said resistance therein, and means responsive to apredetermined degree of rotation of said motor for moving said connecting means into operative position and then cutting said resistance outof said circuit.

19. In combination with an internal combustion engine having a gear mounted thereon, an electric starting motor, a source of current, a gear engaging member adapted to be driven from said motor and normally out of mesh with said gear, means responsive to the initial rotation of said motor to move said gear engaging member into mesh with said gear, and means for automatically increasing the electrical energy delivered to said motor from said source as said gear engaging member reaches its meshed position.

20. Engine starting mechanism comprising a motor having an armature and a iield coil frame, a shaft driven by said motor and extending a considerable distance beyond the field coil frame, but substantially coaxial with the armature, an engine engaging member slidable along, and rotatable with said shaft, the latter having axially extending surfaces cooperating with said engine engaging member to insure rotation of said engine engaging memberjn response to rotation of said shaft, and means for causing said engine engaging member to slide along said shaft into 'engine engaging position, said means including 

